Up the Sázava to the Gold Town

A 22.9 km winter walk up the Sázava from Týnec, past the razed castle of Zbořený Kostelec and through wooded valley paths to the old gold town of Jílové u Prahy.

This is a Sázava-country day within easy reach of Prague. It has two very different pieces of history at its ends. The castle at the start was deliberately demolished, and the town at the end was dug hollow for gold.

From Týnec nad Sázavou station the route follows the river downstream to Zbořený Kostelec. The short scramble up to the ruin is the main climb of the first third, and the platform above the Sázava is the view of the day. Take a minute for the siege earthworks in front of the walls. The traces of the 1467 assault are still visible in the ground. Beyond the castle the way passes the Panská skála rock and climbs away from the river through the Požáry woods.

The middle third crosses quiet plateau country through Těptín and Pohoří. It is plain but fast walking, welcome in January. Then comes the final descent through Kabáty into Jílové u Prahy. The gold-mining museum on the square is a good end to the day, and the station below town has trains back to Prague on the Posázaví line.